NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (Agencies):CBI claimed to have unearthed money trail of Rs 40 crore in the National Rural Health Mission scam in Uttar Pradesh which was routed back in the State through Kolkata-based companies with the alleged involvement of family members of accused.

CBI sources said relatives of former Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and the then MLA Ram Prasad Jaiswal were holding senior positions in the firms which were allegedly set by their associates for routing the money.

They said while wife of Kushwaha was made director in two companies which are under the agency’s scanner. Jaiswal, his wife and sons were directors in at least 10 such companies.

CBI sources said money was allegedly collected by Jaiswal from various contractors which was delivered in Kolkata through the services of his Kanpur—based accountant.

The money, which was allegedly received by the relatives of Kushwaha and Jaiswal in Kolkata, was again routed to the State through fake accounts and shell companies created there for the purpose, they said.

This money was again routed in the companies in Uttar Pradesh in which relatives of Kushwaha and Jaiswal were either directors or at senior positions.

The agency has zeroed in on at least 12 such companies for alleged routing of spoils from National Rural Health Mission funds.

CBI sources said that they have found that Kushwaha, Jaiswal and former Principal Secretary Pradeep Shukla allegedly played a crucial role in finalising contracts related to the NRHM programme in the State.

CBI has named Kushwaha and Jaiswal as accused in the case relating to upgradation of 134 district hospitals for an amount of Rs 13.4 crore by Construction and Design Service, a unit of UP Jal Nigam, whereas Shukla has been named in three cases registered by the CBI in the NRHM scam.

The sources said the money laundering was done with professional expertise to cover the trail involved in the alleged bribe for grant of contracts and favours to the beneficiary firms.

The agency is already working with a senior Income Tax official to understand the scam and has also sought help of Financial Intelligence Unit of the country.

The FIU has access to suspicious transactions which take place in the banks across the country and can help in locating the alleged laundering of money which was routed back into real estate and other immovable assets by the accused, the sources said.

The CBI has given the FIU a list of the accused to track any suspicious transactions and cash transactions undertaken by them across the country, the sources said.

SRINAGAR, Aug 22 : Strong winds accompanied by hail stones that swept several villages of Shopian district last evening have caused huge damage to both the crops and the fruit.
Officials said that the speedy winds amid the heavy hail stones which hit the area at around 6:45 pm last evening caused major complete damage to both the agriculture and horticulture, the main sources of livelihood for the people of the area.
Some of the affected villages include Baltipora, Kralchak, Matipora, Kanip